The Hundred Years War, The Final Chapter

1. The Anglo-Burgundian Alliance 2. Joan of Arc and the End of the War

1. The Anglo-Burgundian Alliance

• If you recall, there was civil conflict in France in the early 15th century as the Duchy of Burgundy attempted to seize power from King Charles VI

An old Arabian proverb:

• As both Henry V and the Duke of Burgundy continued to have military success in France, the two sides agreed to an alliance against the House of Valois in 1419

• According to the Treaty of Troyes, Henry V’s heir was to inherit the French throne

• However, Henry died of illness in 1422 when his son, also named Henry, was only 1 year old

• The Duke of Bedford was given command of English-controlled France and continued English military success

2. Joan of Arc and the End of the War

• In 1428, the English laid siege to Orléans • To rescue the town, the dauphin (French

crown prince) sent a teenage peasant girl to command French forces

• Jeanne D’arc (Joan of Arc) was born in Domrémy in 1412

• She was illiterate, but extremely religious

• At the age of 13, Joan began to hear voices, which she claimed came from God and told her she would save France by defeating the English and putting the dauphin on the French throne

• At 16, Joan convinced the dauphin of her mission and he gave her a suit of armour and command of a large force so she could attack the English forces at Orléans

• Joan of Arc’s army defeated the English forces at Orléans

• Joan of Arc continued to have success against English forces until eventually, in July 1429, the dauphin was crowned King Charles VII

• However, in 1430, Joan was captured by Burgundian forces at Compiègne in 1430

• The Burgundians turned her over to the English

• For her claims to hear the voice of God, Joan’s English captors proclaimed her to be a heretic

• She was burned at the stake on 30 May 1431

• After Joan’s execution, Charles VII’s forces failed to achieve success against the Anglo-Burgundian alliance and he was forced to retreat and regroup

• Henry VI was named King of England in 1429 and King of France in 1431

• His advisors and military commanders continued to press English claims in France

• However, because the Duke of Burgundy began to feel that the English were making too many claims to territory in France, he switched his allegiance to Charles VII in 1435

• This was a death blow for the English • One by one, the gains that England had

made in France over a century were taken back by French forces

• By 1453, English forces had been driven out of France

• Although the two kingdoms did not sign a formal peace treaty, England did not try to retake the French crown